Iconic ‘Reading Rainbow’ Revived for Digital Age with New Host

BUFFALO, New York — The beloved children’s series ‘Reading Rainbow‘ is making a comeback almost 20 years after its last episode aired. Buffalo Toronto Public Media announced the revival, which will be hosted by librarian and digital creator Mychal Threets.

The new version of the show will launch on Saturday, Oct. 4, on KidZuko, a children’s YouTube channel owned by Sony Pictures Television. New episodes are set to release every Saturday through Oct. 25, along with companion vertical videos, a spokesperson from BTPM confirmed.

Originally airing from 1983 to 2006, ‘Reading Rainbow’ was a staple on PBS, encouraging children to read and celebrate literacy. The original host, LeVar Burton, helped inspire generations of young readers. The new series aims to continue this mission with Threets at the helm.

A trailer released earlier this week featured a glimpse of the show’s new setting, where Threets invites viewers into a vibrant library filled with books and projects. It also showcased a host of celebrity guests, including Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa from ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ and actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach from ‘Fantastic Four.’

Threets, known for his engaging presence online, expressed excitement about taking on the iconic role. “I am a reader, I am a librarian because [of] Reading Rainbow. It so powerfully made us believe we belong in books,” he said in a statement.

This revival comes during a challenging time for public media, following a significant cut of $1.1 billion in federal funding for broadcasters, including PBS and NPR. Despite this backdrop, the return of a cherished program like ‘Reading Rainbow’ offers a glimmer of hope for many in the industry.

The first episode will be available at 10 a.m. EST on the KidZuko channel and online at ReadingRainbow.org. Threets and his team are eager to motivate and encourage a new generation of readers.